This is a blog detailing the creation/evolution/ID controversy and assorted palaeontological news. I will post news here with running commentary.

Monday, September 15, 2008

Top Scientist: Teach Creationism

The Daily Mail is reporting on Michael Reiss, Director of Education for the Royal Society, who is now arguing that creationism should be taught along science in schools. They write:

Children should be taught about creationism in school biology lessons, a leading scientist said today. Professor Reiss, a Church of England minister and former biology teacher, said he strongly believed in teaching the theory of evolution to children.

But rather than dismiss creationism as wrong or stupid, teachers should be prepared to discuss it as another 'worldview'. 'It arises from my time as a biology teacher in schools when I realise that simply banging on about evolution didn’t lead some pupils to change their views at all,' he said. 'I had previously been rather evangelical about teaching evolution, trying to change pupil’s minds. 'Now I would be rather more content simply for them to understand it as one way of understanding the universe.'

Or is he? Later in the same article, we find:

But Professor Reiss added: 'Some of my comments about the teaching of creationism have been misinterpreted as suggesting that creationism should be taught in science classes. Creationism has no scientific basis.

'However, when young people ask questions about creationism in science classes, teachers need to be able to explain to them why evolution and the Big Bang are scientific theories but they should also take the time to explain how science works and why creationism has no scientific basis.

It is amazing what a sensationalistic headline will get you. What he says in the second quote is the kicker. If you teach creationism in the public schools, it will be exposed for the scientific fraud that it is. Will it change minds? Who knows.